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Gerontological social workers' perceived efficacy for influencing client outcomes
- Authors:
- BONIFAS Robin, GAMMONLEY Denise, SIMONS Kelsey
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 55(6), August 2012, pp.519-536.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Health and social service delivery are increasingly under political and financial stress due to economic recession, state budget crises, and an ageing population. Using a sample of 269 practitioners from the 2004 National Study of Licensed Social Workers, this study used a quality assurance structure-process-outcome model to investigate factors at the practitioner, workplace, and service delivery levels that influence the perceived efficacy of licensed gerontological social workers to affect client outcomes in the context of a highly challenging health care environment. A regression model accounted for 33.9% of the variance in perceived efficacy with 3 aspects of service delivery satisfaction having significant effects: ability to address complex/chronic care, to influence the design of services, and to help clients navigate the system. Implications for practice are discussed.
Promising practices useful in the design of an intergenerational program: ten assertions guiding program development
- Authors:
- BISHOP Jeffery D., MOXLEY David P.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 10(3), 2012, pp.183-204.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In the United States, practice in the field of aging is focusing on ‘ageing in place’, which itself incorporates a framework of positive aging, and can involve the community support of elders as ways to increase their quality of life and functioning. Undertaking qualitative developmental research for the purposes of designing a prototype intergenerational programme, this paper offers 10 assertions concerning promising practices. The authors undertook an analysis of 47 Web-based portrayals of intergenerational programmes and used Web-based documents that described those programmes to further illuminate promising practices. Using thematic analysis of program Web content, affinity coding, and dialogic interpretation the authors illuminated the programmes' salient properties and qualities, and formulated and refined their assertions about the distinctiveness of intergenerational programmes.
Exploring “home” through residents’ lenses: assisted living facility residents identify homelike characteristics using photovoice
- Authors:
- LEWINSON Terri, ROBINSON-DOOLEY Vanessa, GRANT Kathryn W.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 55(8), November 2012, pp.745-756.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In the United States, an increasing number of older people are moving into assisted living facilities when living independently becomes difficult. These facilities afford older adults a home-like environment with opportunities for social activity and a minimal level of professional care, although relocation can negatively impact well-being. Because it is important to study home environments of aging adults, 10 residents of an assisted living facility were engaged in “Photovoice”, which combines photography with grassroots social action, to explore perceptions of the facility as home. Through photographic expression, residents identified environment enhancements for home at an assisted living facility. Findings of this study have implications for programme planning at long-term care facilities. Implications for future research are discussed.
The influence of African American elders' belief systems on health interactions
- Author:
- BLACK Helen K.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 31(3), July 2012, pp.226-243.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
It has long been acknowledged that religious and spiritual beliefs have an effect on African-American health and well-being. This study investigated how African-American elders' cultural and religious belief systems informed elders' perceptions of their healthcare encounters, quality of healthcare received and, relationships with providers. Interviews were held with 60 African American elders, 60 years and older, in a north-eastern city. Open-ended interview questions concerned elders' perceptions of how their age, gender, race, and belief systems impacted quality of healthcare interactions. Three interrelated themes linked elders' responses: desire for connectedness; sense of marginality; and reliance on God and cultural traditions. The authors highlight the value of social workers designing assessments, programmes, and interventions that qualitatively explored African American elders' beliefs. Implications for future social work practice are discussed.
The future of gerontological social work: a case for structural lag
- Authors:
- FERGUSON Alishia, SCHRIVER Joe
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 55(4), May 2012, pp.304-320.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Social work leaders have been consistently predicting a future shortage of gerontological social workers to care for the growing number of older people in the US. This article begins by discussing this traditional perspective but then goes on to challenge it using a literature review of alternative perspectives. Published evidence demonstrates that, along with population growth, economic and social factors must be taken into account before predicting future gerontological social work demand. The authors look at such factors as time to death analysis, major practice categories, interdisciplinary issues in long term care and the need to demonstrate the value of gerontological social work. They go on to present structural lag theory as a tool for making sense of the implications related to these alternative perspectives and to explain how these factors affect the profession and may limit its presence in gerontological work settings. Recommendations are made to correct the lag, allowing the social work profession a more substantive voice in the aging enterprise.
Towards a model of externalisation and denationalisation of care? The role of female migrant care workers for dependent older people in Spain
- Author:
- ROMERO Belén Agrela
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 15(1), 2012, pp.45-61.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of this article is to analyse the role of migrant care workers in relation to older dependent people in Spain. This new model of care has come about due to: the rapid ageing of the population of Spain; the lack of formal care services; and the increasing presence of women in the labour market resulting in a shortage of informal care. These factors have led to a situation in which ‘importing’ female immigrants has become something of an ‘informal solution’ among both policy-makers and people who require their services. This article analyses how this point has been reaching, drawing primarily upon the connection established between the welfare state, the feminisation of migrations, and global care chains. It describes the limitations of the public system of protection of elders, as well as those of formal care services, making eldercare reliant upon family involvement. Since the high cost of private companies’ services cannot be met by all family budgets, resorting to migrant carers emerges as a solution to the problem. Finally, the article argues that the current conditions favour the production of social inequalities related to gender, class and nationality, and considers the implications for social work practice.
Personalization and community care: a case study of the British system
- Author:
- POWELL Jason L.
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 37(1), March 2012, pp.16-24.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
In the United Kingdom, personalisation services are developing as a social policy response to user demands for more tailored, effective and flexible forms of health and social care support. This process is being implemented under the personalization which is also seen as a vehicle for promoting service user rights through increasing participation, empowerment and control while also promoting self-restraint by having users manage the costs of their health and social care. This paper reviews the background to the emergence of this policy shift, assesses the existing research evidence for personalization albeit limited and identifies themes for future policy research in this area.
Social work and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people: making a difference
- Author:
- FISH Julie
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 200p.
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
This textbook makes a contribution to international agendas in social work with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) people. It examines how practitioners and student social workers can provide appropriate care across the lifespan (including work with children and families and older people) and considers key challenges in social work practice. Drawing on practice scenarios, the book takes an enquiry based learning approach to facilitate critical reflection. Its distinctive approach includes: use of the concepts of the Professional Capabilities Framework for social work; key theoretical perspectives including human rights; structured around the framework of the UK National Occupational Standards for social work; student friendly features including key questions and exercises; complete glossary of key terms and concepts; and, the UK policy and legislative context. Informed by international research in social work with LGBT people, the book is essential reading for students on qualifying social work programmes and practitioners in statutory, voluntary and independent sectors. Chapters include: introduction; the requirement to consider sexual orientation in social work; theoretical perspectives in social work with LGBT people; trans people; children and young people; older people; mental health; disability; substance misuse; asylum seekers and refugees; concluding remarks.
Social work, older people and migration: an overview of the situation in Sweden
- Authors:
- FORSSELL Emilia, TORRES Sandra
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 15(1), 2012, pp.115-130.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article aims to give insight into social work practice with elderly people in Sweden and the manner in which migration challenges the context of elder care. The article starts by describing the changes that Swedish elder care has undergone through the past few decades and how elder care is organised. It then describes the cases of 2 migrant families who care for their elderly relatives in order to draw attention to some of the specific challenges that social work practice with older migrants and their families can pose. Both these cases show that there is a need to develop social work practice in order to meet both the needs of the older migrant and the needs of their families. The article argues that social work practice with these specific populations needs to become aware of the implications that understandings of ethnic ‘Otherness’ have for how elder care is planned and provided. Moreover, it is argued that the globalisation of international migration and the ethnic diversity in older populations that it brings about demand that social work is delivered in a more generationally aware way. Aiming to solely increase the social integration of older migrants can end up jeopardising the social and economic integration of their families.
Migrant workers in eldercare in Israel: social and legal aspects
- Authors:
- IECOVICH Esther, DORON Israel
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 15(1), 2012, pp.29-44.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In Israel, since the early 1990s, a growing proportion of the frail older population has employed migrant live-in homecare workers to provide around the clock care. Migrant workers in elder care are becoming a significant factor in enabling frail elderly people to age in place and avoid or delay institutionalisation. On the other hand, migrant caregivers pose serious challenges to existing social and legal institutions in the societies in which they operate. They demand policy responses that in many cases have socio-economic consequences that go beyond the older population they serve. The aim of this article is to describe and analyse the Israeli experience with migrant homecare workers for older persons. It discusses a number of key problems and dilemmas that are involved with employing migrant homecare workers. These problems include: the legal status of the migrant workers; abuse and exploitation both of and by the migrant worker; the rights of migrant workers; and working hours in home-based care. The article concludes by suggesting a number of key roles that should be played by social workers in this context.